Morgan Carter

I often get the question: What's your new favorite restaurant on the scene? And oftentimes, that question alone is enough to make my head spin. Not for lack of trying, but attempting to stay up-to-date with the rotating door of restaurants debuting month after month can be quite an endeavor. So, we've decided to collect some of the latest and greatest on this list of the best new restaurants in New York, for my peace of mind, and so that you, the reader, can get out there and try it yourself. And who knows, maybe a few of these might make it to our best restaurants list by the end of the year. May 2026: And just like that, we are basically in the middle of 2026. Despite blizzardy conditions that defined the start of this year, I spent a good majority outside anyway, crisscrossing the boroughts to check out New York's latest and greatest. And I was rewarded, handsomely, with excellent breakfast burritos, casual kaiseki and Malaysian food lensed through that of a New Yorker. And now that we have turned a corner on spring, we say it is best to give these new restaurants a spin. 

We’re convinced there’s a sushi restaurant for just about every occasion, and each one serves a purpose. Take the family-owned neighborhood spot, for example. Perfect for a reliable bowl of miso soup and chirashi on a random Tuesday night when even heating up ramen means getting your life together in some impossible way. Then there’s the date-night stunner with a rare sake list and gold-flaked nigiri that costs more than your car payment, but will make a hell of an impression on an important occasion. And we’d be remiss in excluding the refrigerated cases at the local gas station or supermarket for quick—and gastrointestinally regrettable—lunches on the run. Classic.  But then there’s the Mount Olympus of sushi restaurants. God-tier establishments doling out bites of thinly sliced fish and delicately padded rice that would make Poseidon weep (perhaps, even, quite literally). That’s what we have on this list. Restaurants that’ve elevated sushi to its purest art form and have won their fair share of awards and accolades along the way. From a sleek, minimalist counter manned by a protege of Jiro Ono (yes, that Jiro) to a speakeasy-style den of omakase in Nashville (yes, we’re serious), here are some of the best sushi restaurants in America.   May 2026: We’ve updated this list to reflect some of Time Out’s recent reviews of sushi restaurants around the country, along with current pricing, hours and menu offerings for some of our favorites. This guide will be periodically updated

Every drink seems ideal when you're at the perfect bar. Your dive’s beer is frosty, rooftops send you soaring toward the clouds and cocktail destinations shake and stir myriad ingredients into ideally calibrated glassware—leaps above what you try to craft at home. The options are unending, the ice is nicer and you aren’t just drinking, you’re at the spot.  Whether you're dabbling in low-ABV libations, making your way through dedicated martini menus or collecting passwords for pseudo speakeasies, there is an ideal location for every taste, tolerance and occasion. Find them among the best bars in NYC right now. Best NYC bars at a glance: For a taste of old New York - The Dead Rabbit - One of New York's best cocktail bars continues to serve up the smoothest pours of Guinness and one of the best Irish Coffees, period. (Financial District) For a boozin' and a bite: Bar Snack - Excellently fun cocktails with snacks like pickled dusted cheese curds and spice bags (Chelsea) For a late-night croon and swoon: Saint Tuesday - A well-hidden bar found several flights underneath the Walker Hotel Tribeca (Tribeca) For Korean snacks, sips n' such: Sunn's – Sunny Lee's banchan-based bar is a welcome find in Chinatown for natty wines and close quarters. (Chinatown) For tiki anytime of year: Sunken Harbor Club - The speakeasy above Gage & Tollner didn't stay secret for long. And how could it? Their range of tiki cocktails makes for some seriously boozy nights. (Downtown Brooklyn) Updated M

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10—have you booked a brunch reservation yet? In addition to treating her to a massage and a facial during a relaxing spa day, a night spent in absolute peace and quiet at one of the best hotels in NYC or a beautiful bouquet of delivered flowers to her doorstep, make sure to take her out for mimosas and a mile-high stack of pancakes at one of the best brunch spots in NYC.  Whether your mom likes to keep it casual with cheap eats or go all out with a fine dining experience to remember, she’ll appreciate being celebrated by you and the rest of the fam. From scenic rooftop restaurants to elegant, mom-approved French restaurants, these are some of the best prix fixe and à la carte brunches in NYC for Mother’s Day 2026. All you have to do is make a reservation and pick up a box of chocolates on your way to keep the title of “Best Kid Ever” for another year. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Mother’s Day in NYC.

Choosing a favorite restaurant in New York City is a joyful task with myriad possibilities depending on the occasion, mood and even the time of year. Your favorite dive, fine dining destination and neighborhood favorite might all occupy top spots on your personal best list in spite of their disparate qualities.  Our list of NYC’s 45 best restaurants is the same, spanning each of those categories and more to comprise a catalog of all the places we wish we were at right now. They don’t have to be the newest or the most recently reviewed, just places that we’ve been to and want to return to again and again, and that we think that you will, too.  Best NYC restaurants at a glance: For an excellent slice: L'Industrie - The New York slice shop that made us fall in love with Burrata slices, now has a new locale in Little Italy (Little Italy, West Village and Williamsburg) For a spin on a classic diner: Thai Diner – Even six years later, crowds line up for Thai tea babka, French toast, and disco fries from this Thai diner. (NoMad) For killer tacos: Carnitas Ramirez – The taqueria is home to nose-to-tail pork cookery, just in taco form, and it all goes down in a laid-back setting (Lower East Side) For a classic steak: The Dynamo Room - The throwback steakhouse offers prime cuts of steaks and classic cocktails right off of Madison Square Garden (Penn Station) Updated May 2026: Despite the rain and stretches of grey, spring is still here. We've pre-emptively given our rooftop res

The best brunch in NYC can be found every day of the week. Saturday brunch is the best time to gear up for the night ahead, Sundays are perfect for relaxing and a weekday brunch is a rarefied treat designated for ad hoc time off—we would know. We make brunch our business. It doesn’t matter so much when you do it, but where you do it. And whether you skew more toward the breakfast or lunch ends of the portmanteau’s spectrum, toward coffee or mimosas, these are the best brunch destinations in NYC.  Updated May 2026: Springtime calls for more outings and finally making good on those brunch plans. Our recent update added two more Brooklyn locales to the list, Fort Greene's Strange Delight for morning buns and muffuletta sandwiches, and Dolores, our new number one spot to get brunch in this town, for stellar drinks and a seriously incredible French toast. For this go around, we removed Melba's and Kopitiam. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out How we review at Time Out.  Stay in the Loop: Sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get the latest in New York City news, culture and dining. 

Some cities have more sprawl, sure, but we’re partial to the ones that surge upward. And thankfully for all of us, New York City stretches sky-high, from elevated parks like the High Line, to rooftop bars that pair tasty drinks with dizzying views, to beautiful buildings that skim the clouds. But instead of just serving up some of the best views in NYC, the city’s best rooftop restaurants do all that as well as offering some of the finest food and drink options at any elevation. So ready your Instagram filters and get ready for your most scenic foodie snap yet—these spots are your ticket to the top.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC right now Updated April 2026: While the chill has certainly lingered these past few months, we are here to remind you that rooftop weather is coming. So far, we have spent the majority of spring in one of our favorite neighborhoods, Red Hook, cracking crabs and drinking frozen margs at Brooklyn Crab and admiring the views with a margarita at Alma, which we've updated below. We also brought back the Hudson Yards gem with an electric view, Electric Lemon. That and we highly recommend a lobster roll and oyster party at The Yacht Club, the latest from the team behind some of our favorite waterfront restaurants. For this update, we removed The Fulton and The View as they technically have great views, but no dedicated rooftop. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.

Few dining daydreams capture a corner of New York City’s culinary appeal as keenly as the notion of the classic steakhouse. Bustling dining rooms lined with big, plush booths. Moody lights. Tables topped with frigid martinis. And perfectly paired sides and cuts you just can’t quite recreate at home. But as much as New Yorkers appreciate an old haunt whose walls are peppered with history and lore, the city has been more than happy to welcome modern-day halls that honor a good cut. All this to say, a New York City steakhouse can turn any occasion special, significant or quietly distinguished. And while we have plenty to choose from, some are simply better than the rest. So sharpen those knives for a slice of Gotham at its prime.  RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC Updated April 2026: New York has seen a slew of contemporary takes on the steakhouse genre, as Korean flavors have found footing and French inflections have taken hold. Cuerno, a Mexican take on the genre, also adds to the conversation and is now on the list. But what's old is also new again, as classic steakhouses such as The Dynamo Room and Golden Steer have charmed us and made their way into the ranking. For more on our editorial policies and ethics, feel free to check out how we review at Time Out.

There’s something about warm weather and drinking. Maybe it’s some of that Lost Generation romance, a life affirmation, a sense of being in rather than of the world. Maybe it’s just a nice change of pace from the long, dark, cold season.  RECOMMENDED: The best bars in NYC But New York City is tricky when it comes to all that. It’s super dense with strict laws governing what goes on in shared space, which, considering the aforementioned human congestion, is basically everywhere. Many blocks in the city—especially downtown and in Brooklyn—are built around a central open atrium, allowing light and air into the back ends of buildings. That, in effect, means that you can’t always tell from a bar’s front what it’s got going on in the back. Covid outdoor seating saw revelry spill out onto the street, much to the delight of many young, hip, recently christened New Yorkers. But for better or worse, those days are behind us. What’s a person to do? Simple: find bars that feature dedicated outdoor spaces.We have a few here, but there’s a whole other rundown focusing entirely on rooftop bars, so we’re trying to keep this strictly terrestrial. To that end, what you have before you is a smattering of different experiences. Backyards, piers, parks, a freaking boat–we’ve tried to cover all the bases and present options. Are they the best bars, period? These are the best bars that offer a discrete outdoor area, which precludes curbside huts and sidewalk tables.So without further ado, here are

It has never been easier to find enticing plant-based dishes in NYC. Our vegan and vegetarian options go beyond veggie burgers, although NYC has plenty of those, too, and extend to special occasion destinations, exciting new spots, and some of the best overall restaurants in the city. Sure, restaurants all over the ingredient spectrum have broadened their nutrient horizons over the years, but these are your best bets for a meat-free guarantee. RECOMMENDED: See more of the best restaurants in NYC April 2026: Haven't you heard? Veganism is cooked. Or so they say. We admit that several vegan restaurants have closed their doors as of late, and that the Impossible Beef vs Beyond Meat "beef" boom has slowed. Despite this, it has never been easier to be vegan or vegetarian in this town. Our plant-based chefs have continued to excite us with vegetables alone, and their perspectives on sustainability on the plate and the food industry as a whole are leading the future of food. Simply put, there's never been a more exciting time to explore plant-based dining, whether you subscribe to the lifestyle or not.   With that said, our veggie-forward list was due for an update this spring. We added the fine dining vegan tasting restaurant, HAGS, to the list, as well as Superiority Burger for its signature veggie burger and roster of desserts. We also added Flatbush's Aunts et Uncles and Williamsburg's HAAM Caribbean Plant Based Cuisine for their respective ability to veganize Caribbean and Dom

New Yorkers treat brunch like a personality trait, and Manhattan has enough options for all of our personalities: the two-carafes-of-mimosas, the sip-a-coffee-solo-with-a-book and the we're-splitting-everything-and-still-getting-ice-cream-after. We've spent years working our way across the borough at brunchtime, so you can skip the guesswork and head straight for the good stuff at some of the best restaurants in NYC. Find red velvet cake in Harlem that rivals the city’s best bakeries, a French dip that has earned its place as one of NYC’s best sandwiches and the best cocktails for clinking glass from, say, ten a.m. to four p.m.  Updated April 2026: Just in time for patio season’s big comeback, a few new Manhattan brunch spots have made the cut. Grab a table and get ready for spring menus that lean hard into the season with bright citrus, asparagus and the briefly, sweetly omnipresent ramps.  RECOMMENDED: See more restaurants for the best brunch in NYC

A glazed doughnut with sprinkles from a cart with your morning coffee? A New York City classic. A $7 fancy-schmancy cruller from a Williamsburg pop-up? Also classic, in its own way. The doughnut scene in NYC is always frying up something delicious, from a beloved Greenpoint institution that’s been open for more than 70 years to brand-new shops doing numbers on TikTok.  Sweetened fried dough has roots all over the world, which means there are more kinds of doughnuts to eat than we can in a lifetime. But…let’s try. Pair one with a latte from one of the city's best coffee shops, grab a dozen on your way out of one of the city’s best bakeries or settle the great breakfast debate by picking up a doughnut and a BEC from one of the best bagel shops in NYC. Updated March 2026: Some of the most exciting new doughnut shops in NYC were started elsewhere, so you can take a tour of the global doughnut scene without ever leaving the city. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in NYC

Under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge lies Bar Susanne, a shiny new seafood haven. On looks alone, the all-day restaurant is a beauty, defined by hand-grooved textured walls, rust-colored marble and a warm amber glow. But the most eye-catching feature of all is the wall of ice behind the bar, where red lobsters, clams and oysters—all sourced from New York waterways—rest on its chilly banks. Chef Jackie Carnesi, who revived Kellogg's Diner, is behind all things shucked and shelled, presenting pickled mussels, razor clams with sweet and spicy passionfruit aguachile and twee cubes of hibiscus jam and chili-inflected crab salad in a silver coupe. Need to wash it down? Knock back a low-ABV, spritzy thing or take your time with a martini that's been fat-washed with olive oil (Talented Miss Ripley) or stirred with a spiced brine (Cured & Crafted). Of course, you can find yourself back on land, tucking into Carnesi's famed burger—an eight-ounce dry-aged patty with smoked cheddar—or a half chicken. But if you'd rather stay at sea, that’s just as good: Carnesi fries fluke Milanese-style and spoons sauce gribiche over the top. The desserts are equally seafaring, including a galette layered with strawberry "scales" and an ice cream shooter served inside an oyster shell. Read more about Bar Susanne here. 

QC Spa New York is home to a lot of things, a new Italian-leaning restaurant and whimsical wellness rooms that include waterbeds and saunas across its 15,000-square-foot sprawl. But its location is part of what makes this spa so serene, as it gazes upon the beautiful skyline of Lower Manhattan. The best times to drink in the sights? Definitely at sunset to watch the fleeting orange and red sky fall over the city. Adding to the view, the Italian-born spa is setting the tone with a little DJ session.  Starting on May 8, QC Spa New York is launching Sunset Sessions. The first of an ongoing DJ series, Sunset Sessions will bring a relaxed beach vibe to the spa. DJ Elektra will be playing sets at the spa's outdoor garden, making it easy to enjoy the music among the blooming florals or while soaking in one of the property's infinity pools. Leaning into its Amalfi Coast origins, guests can also take a complimentary scented paper fan, handcrafted and shipped from Italy, as a keepsake. Sunset Sessions will be held from now until September 8. DJ sets start at 6pm; no ticket needed. Reserve your spot here. 

Kimchi is so much more than a side dish. One of South Korea's most ubiquitous foods, the fermented cabbage dish is such a cultural staple that it is recognized by UNESCO. Kisa, one of our best restaurants in NYC, knows the importance of kimchi well, as the Korean diner's traditional baek ban meal always comes with rice, a protein and plenty of banchan, the fermented dish always included. Now, the LES restaurant is inviting everyone to a late-night class to learn how the dish comes to life. On May 30, Kisa is hosting a late-night kimchi-making class. Running from 11pm to 1am, the Kisa team will guide participants through a hands-on class that taps into the dish's tradition. As you learn, the team will serve classic kimjang pairings, such as bossam and tons of makgeolli and Mannam soju to wash it all down. But this night is more than just a class. At the end of the evening, participants will create two jars of kimchi, including a 64-ounce jar to take home. The other, however, will be donated to Nanoom House, a Korean elder community in Flushing that's part of Heart of Dinner's network, which is a nonprofit that delivers hand‑decorated care packages filled with culturally thoughtful meals. The class is priced at $95 per ticket. The class includes a guided instruction, a jar of kimchi to take home and a Polaroid photo to remember the evening. Traditional Korean pants, aprons and gloves to wear will be provided. Tickets are now live on Resy; reserve them here. 

In Lebanon, breakfast is much more than a meal. Among the morning spread of labneh, warm olives and za'atar flecked flatbreads, the first meal of the day serves as a way for families to reconnect while gathering around the table. Two restaurants in Brooklyn are shining a light on the ritual with a one-day-only brunch while also raising funds to support the culture.   On May 30, Edy Massih of Edy's Grocer and Samaya Boueri Ziade of Park Slope's Sawa will host a one-day-only benefit brunch for Lebanon. The brunch will include four courses that hit all the main tenets of a Lebanese breakfast: a spread, a plate, a bake and a sweet. Mix and match your way to a meal by perusing selections from both teams, as Edy’s labneh-strained yogurt, topped with an Aleppo chili crisp, and Sawa's brunch staples, including the beid with awarma (eggs with minced lamb), will be on offer. The meal will be held at Park Slope's Sawa with two seatings at 11am or 1pm. Tickets are $65 and include the prix-fixe menu; drinks can be purchased a la carte. All profits from the brunch will go to Beit el Baraka, an organization that provides food, education, employment and emergency support to Lebanese families. Reserve your ticket here. 

An unforgettable Memorial Day Weekend starts at Time Out Market.  For the extended weekend, Time Out Market New York, Dumbo, is throwing a full-blown day party. DJ Fatfingaz of the Heavy Hitters will be spinning live from 2 to 7pm. Naturally, cocktails will be flowing, with Patrón, Grey Goose and Santa Teresa spirits at the ready, plus giveaways and complimentary swag bags all day long. Looking to upgrade your weekend? Purchase a $15 all-day happy hour wristband to enjoy discounted drinks. And for one of the best kick-offs to the summer, we are hosting a Memorial Day raffle. For $10, you can enter to win excellent prizes, including tickets to our Fourth of July rooftop party and our World Cup viewing experience, goodie bags from Patrón and a $100 gift card to Time Out Market.  Expect high energy, rooftop vibes, cocktails flowing and the perfect soundtrack to kick off summer.

Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson—the couple behind Dante—always had a soft spot for the corner pocket found on West 4th and Bank Street. Its brass-heavy finishes and pressed-tin ceilings housed the beloved Nat's On Bank and the Riddler, a short-lived Champagne Bar from San Francisco. And while the two weren't initially planning an expansion (minus the coming Dante on Elizabeth Street), they couldn't say no to the opportunity when the property came on the market. A little zhuzh-up later—including the brand's iconic black-and-white flooring—Dante Aperitivo was born.  The drinks: In true Dante fashion, cocktails are the highlight. But unlike the laundry list of Negronis at its main locale, this spot keeps it light with lower-ABV options for easy drinking (if that wasn't already apparent from the name). It's easy to glide between classic Americanos, made even sweeter with soft strawberry and tomato notes, and Palomas, with fluffy heads that waft the fruit's sharpness to the nose but not to the mouth. Of course, that isn't to say that you can't find a Negroni here; it is Dante after all. The classic 'tail is always available, as are riffs on the former, including a spiced fig and pear rendition and the tropical version with toasted coconut and mango Negroni with nutty flakes sitting over ice.  The food: Dante puts the large basin by the bar to good use, filling it with ice and chilling all manner of seafood and bottles of Champagne. We recommend snacking over indulging, especially

Stone & Soil is striking in many ways, starting with the fact that the 28th Street bar's facade mimics that of a house you'd find in Japan. Though it's the cocktails we're sure will leave the biggest impression—after all, there are 22 of them on the menu. Likely due to the backing of heavyweight talent—including Jimmy Rizvi of Bungalow, Kanvar Singh of Elsie Rooftop and Hirotomo Akutsu, formerly of Tokyo’s Bar Trench—everything at Stone & Soil feels effortlessly intentional. The bar leans into the precision and restraint of Japanese bartending as well as the omotenashi hospitality ethos. There's a certain Zen that comes from watching vest-clad staff stir cocktails in swift motions, or simply from drinking in the interior, made up of deep woods and walls that evoke the ocean's waves. Stone & Soil has sustainability at its core, focusing on reducing waste and reusing ingredients to make its cocktails—think fermenting the skin and leaves of pineapples with koji (the Pink Tango) and upcycling sake lees, a byproduct of sake making, for a creamy, lemony dip meant to be scooped up with finger-sized rectangles of milk bread (Lemon Sake Lees).

Kabawa is one of the hottest tickets in town. Paul Carmichael's Caribbean affair has already earned adoring fans in its first year of business, earning a five-star review from us and the title of the best restaurant in the entire country by Food & Wine. Given those stats, securing a table can be a bit of a challenge, unless you don't mind dining at 10pm. Thankfully, there's also next door's Bar Kabawa, which gives us good reason to visit—particularly to sip on nitro daiquiris and sink your teeth into glossy patties. And now Carmichael has teamed up with a handful of chef pals for a patty collab, sweetening the deal even further.    Bar Kabawa is hosting Patties & Pals, a monthly series where several culinary titans in NYC are taking a spin on one of the most iconic dishes of the Caribbean, the humble patty. Bringing its old-school Italian sensibilities to the medium, Nolita's Torrisi is kicking off the series on May 19, starting strong with the Jamaican beef ragu patty. Later in the summer, Fort Greene's Strange Delight will bring a NOLA-inflected spin on the dish, serving up the Creole daube with Kyoto carrots and hakurei turnips.  The series extends all the way to the fall. Keep in mind that you can catch these specialty patties for only one week. So do as Carmichael says and come on by to "Fill Yuh Belly."  Patties & Pals Calendar: May 19-23: Torrisi June 16-20: Sunn’s July 14-18: Strange Delight August 18-22: Win Son September 15-19: Salty Lunch Lady October 13-17: Ha’s

A decade into her cooking career, Rasheeda Purdie has already made history a few times, first running the only Black-owned ramen shop in America out of a tight stall in The Bowery Market and now operating New York’s first ramen shop dedicated to asa-ramen, or breakfast-style ramen. While she follows the principles of the Japanese dish, she layers in flavors meant to appease a New Yorker’s diet, from bacon, egg and cheese bowls to lox-inspired varieties. The vibe: Purdie has held a lot of titles over the years—from stylist to the Obamas to now chef. She can add interior designer to the list, as she had a hand in assembling her East Village storefront. Everything is intentional here, from the chocolate woods and crystal glassware inherited from Purdie's mother, down to the lace curtains and lace headwraps that Purdie and her sous chef, Brianne “Brie” Waller, wear. But it is Purdie and Waller who make it feel like home, as they converse and connect over the counter.  The food: Purdie fell in love with asa-ramen, and so will you. With 15-plus years of living in New York under her belt, she’s blended the style with breakfast flavors locals will find familiar. The Bacon, Fried Egg & Cheese is a crowd favorite, with thick cuts of bacon, a jammy egg, curls of Parmesan and dredges of bacon fat and lard oil tying it all together. The lox bowl drinks more like the sea, with a nori-infused broth and cream cheese foam—though the lox gets saltier the longer it sits, so eat with speed. The

Ah, the return of terrace season is finally upon us. In recent weeks, we've seen an uptick in patio and rooftop activity, as New Yorkers are thirsty for some sunshine (and the eventual order of drinks that come with it). Marea, Columbus Circle's coastal Italian restaurant, is marking the return of the season by reopening its outdoor terrace with an elegant afternoon party. On May 9, join Marea for Oyster & Champagne Fest. The afternoon celebration from 1-4pm will include unlimited pours of Champagne Delamotte alongside Montauk Pearl Oysters prepared every which way, all served on their al fresco terrace. The team at Marea will also be serving small bites and stirring up a selection of cocktails. Oysters, drinks, and dreamy views of the outdoor garden and Central Park beyond? Welcome to spring, indeed.  Tickets for Oyster & Champagne Fest are priced at $150 per person. Tickets also include a coveted restaurant keepsake: a limited edition Marea baseball cap. Purchase your tickets here.

Alma has the kind of restaurant story we love to hear. It started all the way back in 2002 when three partners purchased a vacant lot in Red Hook and built the tri-story restaurant from the ground up (the same team moseyed down the waterfront to build Brooklyn Crab a decade later, which also sits three stories off the ground). But in 2024, Roberto Lopez and Emilio Sanchez took over the operation, sprucing up the floors and decor across all three levels. To ensure the integrity of Alma remained intact, chef Francisco Lopez, who'd been there for 20 years, stayed put in the kitchen to continue cooking Pueblan cuisine, the food of his Mexican hometown. A true family affair, his wife, Margarita, brings her Oaxacan roots to the table, focusing on salsas and moles that she makes from scratch, while their daughters, Daisy and Daphne, tend to the front of house.  The cuisine is more homey than groundbreaking: bowls filled to the brim with guacamole, flautas as crunchy and crisp as can be and tortillas made in-house and served warm every time. The red snapper is a sleeper hit with a punchy, warm tomatillo-and-saffron sauce, while the short rib enchiladas did the job, spilling out with shreds of meat and plenty of cheese, covered in a luscious mole. Billed for two (though there's plenty to feed three people), the parillada platter features several proteins—some a bit overcooked—including grilled steak, shrimp, chicken and chorizo, plus triangles of gooey fried cheese, mango salsas and p

As much as New York is well known for a good place to get a cocktail and an excellent glass of wine, we are here to remind you that our beer scene is just as robust, with taprooms and beer gardens aplenty. And if you’re a beer enthusiast, eager to discover some new brews, we've got the perfect thing for you. Every second Thursday, join us for Tap In Thursdays, a springtime brewery takeover series at Time Out Market New York, Dumbo. Starting at 6pm, our basement beer and sports hang, The Local Corner, hosts some of the city’s most respected breweries to bring you exclusive pours and specialty flights. How local, you ask? Past tap takeovers include the folks behind Brooklyn Brewery, Sixpoint Brewery, Talea Beer Co., and more. Brewery representatives will be on-site for meet-and-greets and will also be giving away exclusive merchandise. Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or just looking for a new weekday hangout, Tap In Thursdays is the perfect way to toast the spring season! Tap In Thursdays are free to attend, RSVP here.  

There’s been a lot of chicken talk in the city lately, including a little half-roasted birdie in Brooklyn with a $40 price tag that's gotten a whole lot of attention. But according to Mark Mendaros, understanding the breakdown behind the bird is where the conversation should start. “There's a lot that goes into a rotisserie chicken that people don't always see—sourcing quality birds, brining, seasoning, prep, the cook itself, plus rent, labor, and everything it takes to run a kitchen in New York,” he says. “The costs add up quickly.” You may be familiar with the name Mendaros, and if not, you definitely know the man's work. A burger king through and through, Mendaros and his chef, Fredy Cetina, made a massive mark on the burger scene with the namesake burgers at Smashed NYC and Smashed Express. And much like he revolutionized the burger by keeping things simple—using quality beef and housemade toppings—Mendaros now plans to do the same with rotisserie chicken. “Rotisserie has always appealed to me,” said Mendaros. “There's something honest about it—the slow spin, the fire, the crispy skin. You can't hide behind it, same as a smash burger. Just good ingredients, cooked with care.” RECOMMENDED: Here’s where you can find a killer $14 lunch deal in Union Square Now, Mendaros is launching The Rotisserie Haus at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. Describing it as simple, honest food done well, Mendaros and Cetina’s latest will all be about roasting chickens, steaks and other p

Chef Elias Popa has held onto a single brick for three years. He’s moved it around a few times, keeping it first at his now-closed Lower East Side Romanian restaurant, Oti, and later in the confines of his car. But this isn’t just any brick. Popa has spent the last several years transforming 55 Christopher Street with design partner Jun Qin of Wild Form Design Studio, the basement-level bar space that once housed the legendary 55 Bar jazz club before it shuttered in 2022. After sitting vacant for years and suffering damage from a fire in the building, the venue had fallen into serious disrepair. When Popa first toured it, the floor was little more than exposed beams. During demolition, he came across a loose brick from the exposed wall of the neighboring building: none other than The Stonewall Inn. He kept it, waiting for the right moment. Now, the brick has found a permanent home, proudly illuminated inside a new gathering space dedicated to community, connection and exceptionally crafted cocktails. Tonight, the West Village welcomes Love Thy Neighbor. Photography courtesy of Aichan Mama| G&T for Neighbors Taking inspiration from the queer-friendly neighborhood it calls home, the bar and all-day dining concept follows a simple design philosophy: “no straight lines.” The result is a futuristic, almost spaceship-like interior, with soft tan curves framing booths and tucked-away alcoves in the back. Hidden toward the rear is an especially stunning bathroom that feels as thou

In the summer of 2024, Charles and Shireen Kuykendoll hosted what they thought would be a small, family-friendly cookout competition at their home in Los Angeles. The challenge: who makes the best oxtail? During the pandemic, Charles had finally perfected his recipe, picking up techniques and tips from friends and Caribbean chefs along the way. Confident in his skills, he posted about an oxtail cook-off on social media, expecting only people from his Instagram “close friends” list to show up. Instead, word spread quickly. Soon, chefs began reaching out asking to compete. On the day of the event, 12 cooks arrived with Nigerian, Jamaican and Dominican interpretations of the dish. More unexpectedly, so did over 200 people. “My wife and I were a bit taken aback,” says Charles. “We invited about 120 people, and even that was probably too many for our house, but word of mouth spread. We looked up, and suddenly people were everywhere.” Perhaps the turnout wasn’t entirely surprising. The couple runs Charles Beloved Productions, an event company behind large-scale gatherings like RNBHouseParty, which later evolved into the Blavity House Party Music Festival. Still, the overwhelming response made one thing clear. “I looked at my wife and said, ‘We got one,’” Charles says. In 2025, the pair officially launched The Oxtail Off, a food competition bringing together chefs across the Afro-Caribbean diaspora to answer an age-old question: who makes the best oxtail? More than 2,000 people atte

There are many reasons to visit Governors Island this summer: QC Spa New York unveiled a full-service restaurant last month and is bringing a summertime DJ series to its outdoor garden, the Smorgasbord team, on the other hand, recently debuted Six Coasts, a seaside restaurant and bar that feels like the Caribbean. Now, one of Brooklyn’s best restaurants is also setting the island aflame: Theodora. RECOMMENDED: Luxury glamping is back on Governors Island for the summer Theodora is bringing its live fire cookery to Governors Island with Theodora Beach Club. Presented by Resy and media partner VinePair, the restaurant will be taking over the sandy taco shack, Taco Vista, all summer long, throwing weekend beach parties and swanky, late-night dinners. Of course, this isn’t the first time Theodora has taken their love of fire cooking on the road, as owner/chef Tomer Blechman and his staff teamed up with the immersive outdoor cooking experience, Terra Firma, to cook Caribbean snapper in Antigua. They have, however, been looking to recreate it on a larger scale.  “Our team has spent the past year exploring how live fire cooking can be brought to NYC diners in dynamic ways, beyond the walls of Theodora,” says a spokesperson for the restaurant. “We’re lucky to get to cook with wood-fire every day, and our team is always seeking new ways to push the techniques and the flavors. This is what led us to create this series as a way to share the style of cooking we love with people who are dr

You may not know the name Matthew Maddy outright, but it is more than likely that you’ve experienced his work. The designer has made his mark on restaurants about town, including Lilia, Public Records and Oxomoco, so much so that he earned a James Beard nomination for his rustic take on Brooklyn’s Colonia Verde. Maddy crossed paths with chef Jackie Carnesi along the way, which makes sense, as he led the build-out at Nura and the recent revamping of Kellogg’s Diner, both kitchens she helmed. And now that Maddy and his partner, Marisa Maddy Ripo, turned a new, industrial build in Williamsburg into something that’s entirely beautiful, feminine and warm, Carnesi has come along for the ride. Here are four things to know about Bar Susanne.  Photography courtesy of Lorenzo Bongiovanni| Bar Susanne The project comes from a personal place for the design team. Bar Susanne, and its sister cafe next door, Cafe Susanne, is named after one of Maddy’s mentors, Susanne Greene. A second mother to Maddy, Greene was also an artist and ceramicist in New York. Using her spirit as an energy for the place, Greene’s feminine and artistic influence is certainly felt as the space is defined by hand-grooved and textured walls, rust marble and a warming glow thanks to amber lighting. The logo takes from her, too, recreated from a sculpture she made, which she referred to as “a fish person.” Maddy also incorporated works from his mother, Barbara Chapman, who is also an artist, as her prints hang around

What can we say about Miami’s LPM Restaurant & Bar that we haven’t said before? According to our team down in South Beach, the European import is well known about town, starting with its warm welcome of “plump tomatoes” always fresh on the table, readily available for the slicing, followed up by its “parade of seafood,” be it “raw, grilled, pan-fried or delicately baked en papillote.” Oh, and the cocktail of the evening? It goes to the Tomatini that’s always “subtly savory, refreshing and bright.” But why am I telling this to you, dear reader, who is likely reading this from within the state lines of New York? Because the Mediterranean restaurant is coming our way for a two-day stretch, that’s why.  That’s right, LPM Restaurant & Bar will be taking over Accademia Dante for a limited time this May. For only two days, May 19 to May 20 from 8pm to 11pm, the restaurant will bring its French Riviera-like vibes to the aperitivo bar. Naturally, the Tomatini cocktail will make an appearance, a smooth and savory tippler made out of muddled Campari tomatoes and a splash of white balsamic vinegar. But a few drinks off the restaurant’s Déjà Vu menu will be coming along for the ride, with cocktails styled after the golden age of the French Riviera, such as the Birkin (Charentais melon, Bacardi añejo cuatro, vermouth, and tonic water), Bikini (cantaloupe, Bacardi añejo cuatro, Rinomato apertivo) and La Piscine (strawberry, yellow bell pepper soda, chili tincture and Don Julio blanco). And

The New York Times just debuted its annual ranking of the best 100 restaurants in NYC, crowning Paul Carmichael’s Kabawa as the top spot for 2026. The listicle, “The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City, 2026,” was released in two parts, with the final unveiling of the top ten dropping today. This marks the first curated ranking from newly appointed co-chief critic Ligaya Mishan, who stepped into the role last summer. Over the course of ten months, Mishan “scoured the city end to end,” eating her way through hundreds of restaurants across all five boroughs in an attempt to narrow down the city’s very best. Much like our own ranking of NYC’s top restaurants, the list doesn’t solely prioritize tasting menus or $500-per-head experiences. Instead, Mishan focused on the diversity and personality of the city’s dining scene, weighing “imagination, ambience, service, technique, passion, commitment and sheer deliciousness”—and perhaps most importantly, “New York-iness.” RECOMMENDED: The 45 best restaurants in NYC right now For 2026, a whopping 33 restaurants made their debut on the list. Queens was especially well represented, with inclusions like one of Zohran Mamdani’s favorite restaurants, Kabab King (100), streetside chalupa destination Chalupas Poblanas El Tlecuile (99) and the chicken and lamb tagines at Dar Lbahja (78). Other newcomers include Chinatown wine bar Lei (76), “Top Chef” winner Gregory Gourdet’s Maison Passerelle (75) and Fidel Caballero’s bold Mexican restaurant

Weekday lunches can quickly turn into a sad affair. Wilty desk salads, cold leftovers and slop bowls that still run you upwards of $20? Starting this week, leave it all behind and head to Union Square for a meal that won't disappoint.  Launching today at Time Out Market New York, Union Square—and available every Monday through Friday from 11:30am to 2 pm—you'll find a new killer $14 lunch deal, featuring filling and delicious food that's actually affordable. So what's on the menu? Think veggie-friendly packed bowls from Ivy Stark's BKLYN Wild, chicken tikka and egg paratha rolls from Kebabwala and chicken bowls with a Mexican spin from Tacos Fonda. Meanwhile, Fornino is bringing hearty Italian sandwiches packed with mortadella and prosciutto to the table, while Kam Rai Thai is honing in on its classics, selling pad Thai and its spicy, zingy zaab zaab wings. For a classic combo, try Smashed Express's smashburger-and-fries deal. And we aren’t telling you what to do, but if you happen to be a late luncher, you can always stay and nab a happy hour drink, think $10 cocktails, $9 wines and $5 beers, starting at 2pm. And there’s more! To celebrate the launch of our new $14 lunch program, we’re giving one lucky office the ultimate weekday lunch break. Enter for a chance to win lunch for up to 50 people and treat the whole office to a stellar spread. Enter here by May 31.  Check out the full lineup of $14 selections below. Happy lunching! BKLYN Wild Brussels Sprout CaesarFeliz BowlU

For over 40 years, chef Michael Ayoub has been feeding the people of New York, much of it pizza. And for the past 21 years (nearing 22 years come May 20), he has been doing so at his restaurant Fornino, a wood-fired pizzeria that deep dives into the art of flour and water. His footprint has grown since his early days, some of them skyward, with rooftop restaurants in Brooklyn Bridge Park and another at our very own Time Out Market New York, Dumbo. And last year, the chef made the move to Manhattan for the first time, arriving at Time Out Market New York, Union Square. On the cusp of his annual pizza party for charity, we caught up with chef Ayoub between shifts to talk about valuable lessons in the kitchen, his expansive tomato seed collection and where he likes to get a slice of pizza in the city.  What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from another chef? The most valuable lesson I learned was from Claude Bailles: don't serve anything I'm not proud of and something that I wouldn't eat myself. Where do you go to unwind in NYC?  I like The Met Museum. We live close to it, and it's always something new. Right now, there's an unbelievable Raphael show. If you could travel to any other city right now and dine out for a week, what city would you visit? I was just in Madrid last year, and the food was amazing. We had an opportunity to go to a restaurant, Diverxo, the number two restaurant in the world at the time, 26 courses, and I still remember every one of them.  What’s

Mark Mendaros didn’t always start in the burger business. But we think New York is all the better for his joining, as his expertly thin and griddled patties started a bit of a revolution here a few years back. If you haven’t guessed it already, Mendaros is behind Smashed NYC, a burger shop that specializes in all things caramelized, seared and smashed. Now the pandemic pivot has spawned multiple burger stands all around the city, including two in our very own market hall, Time Out Market New York, Dumbo, and Time Out Market New York, Union Square. And now that May marks #BurgerMonth, Mendaros is grilling up limited-time patties that mustn’t be missed.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by SMASHED NYC (@smashednyc) Available at Smashed Express at Time Out Market New York, Union Square, and Mendaros, and featuring his executive chef, Fredy Cetina, has launched two limited-edition burgers to celebrate the month. First up is the birria burger ($18), a creation that pays homage to Cetina’s Mexican heritage. Naturally, it all starts with the birrira. Chef Cetina keeps it traditional, slow-braising beef in a rich adobo of dried chilies, garlic, and warm Mexican spices until incredibly tender. A bit of a beef boom: the birria is layered over two smashed patties, slathered with salsa verde, and topped with red pickled onions. And that leftover braising liquid? That becomes the consommé, served on the side, ready for a dip and eat.  And to add a little luxury

When Rasheeda Purdie announced that she was moving Ramen By Ra, her tiny but mighty ramen stall in The Bowery Market, into a place of her own, I think we all assumed her next venture would follow the general trajectory of more: more menu, and definitely more space. Instead, four seats have now been upgraded to a healthy six, as she relocated to an East Village space no larger than a home kitchen—and it essentially operates as such. But this was an intentional move, as Purdie’s vision was to remain true to the ramen counters of Japan. That, and she always wanted to ensure that dining with her remained intimate. And after a slow 45-minute spell with Purdie over easy conversations and bowls of excellent ramen, it is easy to see why her counter continues to be one of the hardest seats to claim in the city. Even from the storefront, Purdie’s hand is evident. The entire facade is painted a deep chocolate brown, delicate lace curtains peeking from the window. The inside feels like you've arrived in mom’s kitchen, with warm dark woods, mirrored backsplashes and crystal glasses that have been carefully set out for your arrival. Purdie and her sous chef, Brianne “Brie” Waller, are here to welcome you—and more—as they hold all the titles here—server, host, chef. Though they do it all, from carefully laying thin, straw-colored noodles in bowls to steaming buns, it's still possible to catch them for a bit of conversation, whether it's to chat about Purdie’s past life in the fashion indust

Cinco de Mayo falls on a Tuesday this year, making for the ultimate taco Tuesday.  The residents of Mexico don't necessarily celebrate Cinco de Mayo the way we do on this side of the Atlantic, but, for New Yorkers, there is always a good reason to honor the culture's rich food and community spirit. To that intent, here are six ways to honor the day in NYC this year, from rooftop parties to margarita crawls. For bogo tacos Can you really just have one taco? Mixteca doesn’t think so. The agave bar founded by Please Don’t Tell veterans Jeff Bell and Victor Lopez is delivering all-day specials starting with $10 cocktails. And when you get hungry, you can eat bogo tacos from their sister restaurant, Tacos 1986, also housed within the same residence. For a feast for the crew Looking to feed the crew this Cinco de Mayo? Look no further than Tacos Fonda at Time Out Market Union Square. Celebrated chef Roberto Santibañez is cooking up a sweet Cinco de Mayo pack for the holiday. The deal includes five tacos, fresh guacamole, chips and salsa, plus a Dos Hombres tequila margarita—all for $25. And with the weather looking mighty fine this Tuesday (fingers crossed for 77 degrees!), taking your platter to the outdoor terrace sounds like just the place to celebrate.  For rooftop fans in Brooklyn... Time Out Market Dumbo’s yearly Cinco de Mayo Celebration is back this year! Once again, the 5th-floor rooftop is going all out this year with a live band and special margaritas, all within sight o